"Copycat" Suicide

AN American wrestler who worshipped Chris Benoit has taken his own life, with worries it may have been a copycat suicide.

James Fawcett, who wrestled under the name Devil Bhudakhan in the Pittsburgh area, hanged himself a fortnight ago. He was 31-years-old.

His death came just three weeks after that of Benoit, who committed suicide by hanging after murdering his wife and seven-year-old son.

The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer reported the cause of James's passing yesterday, saying: "This was a possibly a copycat ending of Chris Benoit, since he was this man's idol.

"He was one of dozens, if not hundreds, of independent wrestlers who both idolized and patterned their wrestling style after Benoit.

"Although similarly marital issues likely played the major role.

"He was despondent over his wife leaving him five weeks ago."

In more shocking news for the wrestling industry Moondog Nathan - who worked on the independent circuit in America's South - also died this month.

He was killed a by a massive heart attack at the age of 37.

His sister Michelle said: "We lost our father on Jan 5 and we lost our older brother on April 5.

"I think this was just too much for Nathan to deal with. I think being struck with so much grief and stress was just too much and that's what brought on the heart attack.

"But he is now reunited with them both in a much better place!"

Neither star ever worked for a major outfit like WWE, TNA, WCW or ECW.

The total number of wrestlers under 50 passing away in the last decade now stands at 107.

Medical experts say wrestlers are 12 TIMES more likely to have a heart attack than a regular person, with steroid, painkiller and other drug abuse a contributing factor. The heavy usage can also lead to mental decline and suicide.